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Sead Kolasinac has made an impressive start to his Arsenal career (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal star Sead Kolasinac has been accused of asking for exorbitant wages by Schalke who were forced let the versatile defender leave on a free transfer during the close season.

The Bosnia international has quickly established himself as a crowd favourite at his new club, with his uncompromising style and attacking instincts providing Arsenal’s left-flank with a robust and exciting option.

Arsene Wenger fended off interest in the 24-year-old from Manchester City after Arsenal agreed to make Kolasinac one of their top earners on a staggering £140,000-a-week deal.

Bundesliga club Schalke simply could not afford to match that offer, or come anywhere close, and general manager Christian Heidel claims he was not prepared to bend to the demands of the player voted the best left-back in Germany last season.

Sead Kolasinac was voted the best left-back in the Bundesliga last season (Picture: Getty)

‘An extension with Seo was not economically justifiable,’ he told SportBild.

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‘I have a sporting and an economic responsibility. A populist act, only to avoid possible criticism, would be strange to me.’

Kolasinac did not travel with the rest of the Arsenal squad to Belarus on Wednesday ahead of their Europa League clash against BATE Borisov with Wenger planning to rotate his squad.